The invention provides a method of rapidly machining multiple, often similar or nearly identical, features using a LASER machining system. During LASER machining, light of a wavelength and intensity that will modify the workpiece to be machined is directed at the workpiece and interacts to produce the desired change. If several features are to be machined, the processing speed can be increased by operating on a multiplicity of features at once. In one embodiment of the invention, this is achieved by separating the LASER beam into multiple beams and machining the desired features simultaneously.